A copartnership



1. c; ToRREY.

BUCKLE. APPLICATION lFILED IAN. 22, 1920, 1,366,104. Patented Jan. 18,1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

JOHN C. TORREY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNOR TO F. Il. TORREY 8a COMPANY, 0F ATT-LEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A C0?iJEtlN'EtSHI?.OIVIPRISING` FRED L. TORREY AND JOSEPH KERKHOFF. i

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1921..

Application inea January 22, 1920. `'serial No. 353,239.

To all whom t may conocen.'

Be it known that l, JOHN C. Tonner, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Attleboro, in the county of' Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improve ments in Buckles, of which the tollowing is a specification. y i

This invention relates to buckles ot the class more particularly adapted" to automatically grip and bind a belt in adjusted position about the body of the wearer; and theobject ot this invention is to provide a simple and practical cam'shaped clanuping member which will present. a rounding blting surface to the belt to bite the against the back of the front plate to pre-- vent the same from slippin.`

By my improved construction ot buckle the same is adapted to operate upon widely different thicknesses of belts.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features ot' construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

.ln the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1-is a sectional side elevation illustrating my improved cam-bar as mount ed in a buckle.

Fig. Q-is a sectional side elevation ot my improved cam-bar, showing the pivoting,` members formed integral therewith.

Fig. 3-is an enlarged `view showing4 a portion ot the buckle with the cam-bar in section and in position to grip and bite the belt against the inner end et the trent plate ot the buckle.

Fig. ll--is a perspective view proved cam bar.

Figi'. a perspective view oil the buckle, showing the rear side thereot.

It is found in practice that the ordinary clanupingr bar which is constructed with a thin, clamping blade, is capable etacting` properly upon a belt of a given thickness. llhen again the sharp, narrow edge of such a clamp cuts and in time destroys the belt.

To obviate these difficulties 'I have profided a pivotally-mounted, cam-shaped, gripping-bar which presents a rounding, gripping surface to the belt, and by which construction a belt of any thickness within of'. my inxreasonable limits, maybe used and firmly held in this buckle. y

The buckle I have constructed has the usual tace-plate .10 with two rearwardlyextending side walls il. l. have pivotally mounted my improved c, shaped, gripping-bar l2, which is pretrably formed et sheet stock :folded into somewha et' a tubular iorm having airelatively largiige, inner loop 13 and a smaller, outer loop le.,

on opposite sides oi its pivoting; point l5.- `This inner loop is 'termed by bending; the

sheet stock from this pivotingppoint around in a circular form, providing a substantially, cam-shaped, inner portion whose enf gagging or biting surface is roughened or corrugated as at 16, to engage the belt end 17, to bite the saine against the inner tace of the front plate l0. The sheet metal torming the outer loop 14 is folded into the .torna of an eye 18 in which the bail member 19 is pivotally held.

'The edge 2O of the stock which forms this outer eye, extends around to abut against the back 'portion 2l thereof, while the edge Q12 oi. the stock forming the inner loop abuts against the edge 20 oithe outer loop by which construction it will be seen that the edge 22 ot the inner loop serves to support the inturned edge 2O of the outer loop :trom opening' under any severe strain which may be applied to this Aouter loop through a tension on the belt portion 23 which is secured to the bail 19.

In other words itt there is any spring),` `in the stock the harder the bitingdoop presses against the belt the greater the siuniporting pressure oit its edge against the edge 2O et the eye where the strain is applied.

By my improved construct-ion it will be noted that the biting,r surface of the cam-bar is round in cross section and there-tore presents a relativelybroad and biting: surfnet, to the belt which grips and binds the saine without cutting' or injuringn it.

My improved term ot dripping); bar has a number ot advantages over other tasten in .fr means oit this character; among: others being; first. that the bar may be constructed of sheet metal and folded into cam shape which in the using,` oi plated material will brinsr the precious metal on the exposed or Cfr ln these side walls y 1s much less expensive Vsolid stock, fifth,

entirely inclosed; second, by forming my improved bar of sheet stock it may be folded into the exact shape desired having inner and outer loops and may be eompleted Without the use of solder, which is oi great advantage from a practical standpoint; third, the pivoting members may be formed integral With this bar again obviating asoldering operation and reducing the expense of construction; fourth, by this construction the clamp is formed very light in Weight and'no stock is Wasted and the same to construct than bar Were made of by forming this clamping member in cam-shape it Will adapt itself to belts of any thickness and as the bail is pivoted in the clamp it insures a straight pull from the eye of the clamp at Whatever angle the biting portion oi the clamping member may stand.

My improved form of buckle is very simple and practical in construction and effec- Would be 'possible if Vthe n tive 1n its operation.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I re.- serve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

l claim:

A belt buckle comprising a body portion having a front plate with rea ru'a rdly-turned edge Walls, a clamp member formed ot sheet metal having one edge folded to forni a clamp cani and its opposite edge folded to form a bail-receiving pivot eye, integral lat.- erallyextending trunnions on said clamp member positioned intermediate said cani and clamp eye and pivoted in said side walls, said cani portion serving to grip the belt against the inner face of said body` and a bail pivotally connected to said bail eyes to which the opposite end of the belt may be attached.

ln testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOHN C. TORREY. 

